Anyone Going Back To AL Flashing With MCQ?

Greg Di

I haven't seen ACQ in a quite a while, yet I'm still using copper flashing by habit.

Has anyone gone back to Aluminum flashing now that ACQ is phased out more or less? It's cheaper and easier to work with. I can't stand trying horse the copper "foil" flashing under existing siding.

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neolitic

Hmmm, the copper I have been using
is somewhere between real coil stock
and "handi-coil" in thickness.
Yes, the I've gone back to aluminum
preformed, but I am gonna keep using
the ice & water stuff underneath
for the sake of sealing penetrations.
They say Al is okay, I'll take them
at their word.

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dkillianjr

I have done the same as neo. I have gone back to coil with something underneith it. I usually bend my own flashings with alcoa ts24 coil stock its painted anyway so I would think that would help too.


Dave

WarnerConstInc.

I have used 16 oz. copper quite a few times, in sheets cut down and bent on my break, it sucks after awhile. Now I am back to window tape, grace, even tar paper under my AL flashings. If one condom works 99.98% of the time than TWO should work 199.96%. I a double upper too!

deckspec

personly glad to see ACQ go. On the subject i like bendable vinyl flashing

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dhall

I would do some further reasearch on MCQ before switching completly as there seems to be some differences of opinion on rot resistance and fungus growth, especially in ground contact. Also, Simpson is not convinced on switching back to lower grade treated hardware. I certainly don't plan to build decks that I can verify the claims on the materials. I have a firm rule in deck building. Build it once and build it right. If I am not convinced it does not go into our projects

neolitic

You will soon be special ordering all
of your deck frame then.
No one, not a single yard, has ACQ
around here any more.
The treaters want to switch.
It's not as corrosive for their plant
and equipment.

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BuiltByMAC

Hey guy, wandered over to your site but couldn't find anything on decks. You got another page with your deck projects?

I would think your company would be researching the sh*t out of this stuff. Seems like treated lumber that was less corrosive and dangerous to the environment would be right up your alley...

Mac

redwood

Ca. must be behind in the times. We still have nothing but ACQ.

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PA woodbutcher

I haven't stopped using aluminum. I've been using Ice and Water between the treated and the Aluminum. I've always ran the I&W 6" up the wall for my ledger. Looked at flashing tape one time and decided to stay with I&W. Take a full roll and run it through the band saw to cut it into strips to use.

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dhall

I have a second rule I go by also: After 32 years of deck building, when the housing market collapses and every "carpenter" with a saw and pickup who was framing last year is now building decks for nickels on the dollar then it is time to find something else to do. Since I have 4 other building related businesses I don't need to bang heads with homeowners who want bottom dollar work.

You are right that the treated materials don't sit well with environmentally friendly building. However you have to find a happy medium of environmentally friendly and safe building products. If the material rots in ground contact then there is a problem. I hope MCQ works out. I would rather not see a repeat of the 100s of decks in this area that were built with ACQ and standard hangers and hardware because the builder didn't know better or the box store told them it was all right. Goes back to a builder of anything should know what is available in their chosen field and why things are good or bad. Many don't take the time or don't care.

As far as researching products, I do all of the time for my product sourcebook database of over 7500 building products manufacturers. I have two people whose only job is to find new manufacturers for our sourcebooks.

This is why I don't post often as I tend to get long winded. The point of my original pst was simply to not go back to the old ways until you are sure of the product.

And by the way we still have alot of ACQ in the midwest.

BuiltByMAC

Don't feel like I'm picking on you, I would just think after 32 years of building decks, you'd have a pretty decent portfolio and be really good at that specific niche market. You wouldn't need to compete w/ HOs or Hacks 'cause you'd be at the top of the heap.

I just like looking at pictures though...that's why I was surprised that I couldn't find any links to any deck projects on your website. Not only have you dropped out of the deck market, you've completely erased any existence you were ever there!

As far as wood rotting in ground contact....I pretty much expect that's what it would do, treated or not. If you build in such a manner as to prevent wood from coming in contact w/ the ground and prevent water from pooling on a wood member connection, your project will last longer, no matter what it's made out of.

Again, this is merely dialog and not me "jumpin' your case."


Mac

neolitic

Last I checked, Indianapolis
is still in the midwest.
Look at the end tags, a lot
of suppliers don't even know
what they are selling lately

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neolitic

Apparently the MCQ process works
best with YP, haven't seen any
switch overs with fir treaters...
yet.

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Ahren

Yes. For the same reasons you just listed.

dhall

I didn't say that all we have in the midwest is ACQ, I said that we still have ACQ in the midwest. Maybe in Indy you have all MCQ, in Northern IL and Southern WI there is still ACQ. I am not sure what the point of your post was but I don't need to look at the end tags, my suppliers know exactly what they are selling.

dhall

I do have alot of decks under my belt including pictures but when I decided to concentrate on my other businesses I took down the site and moved on. I like to look at pictures as well as the next guy but I see no reason to have a website and pictures if we are not doing that anymore. In reality I prefer to do my own work and once you past 50 hauling water soaked lumber and lifting decking loses its luster and there comes a time when your knees and back tell you to do something else. Fortunately I had gotten into some other things and was able to change. Some time if I have a few minutes I will post some interesting jobs like the two decks and redwood hot tubs we built at the base of a duplex being built into the side of a mountain over an old mine shaft in Aspen.

neolitic

That was what I thought too,
til I drove 15 miles out of the way
to find out they didn't.
I have been surprised at how
many of the salesmen at real
yards have been clueless through
this process.

Some still sell ACQ, and even CCA,
in 4X and 6X ground contact.
Larger posts are all ACQ and CCA,
even penta for phone poles.
We can order CCA for
foundation grade stuff.
Just saying MCQ is the wave...
it will be every where.
I'm not selling it, or even pleased
with it, just have to accept it.

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dhall

I can't tell you how many years I felt the same way and every year I bitched about the state of deck building, and every year I swore I wasn't going to build anymore, and every year everyone including my kids said they heard the same thing from me every year so do something about it. So now I don't have to care about it - although I catch myself every once in a while thinking a nice IPE deck would look nice on a house I am at.

Lately we have been working on a deck products directory and I have to admit, there are some interesting products out there. If only I could find someone to let me design them into a job, was willing to pay the price, and didn't bother me while I was working I be right back out there. I don't see that happening though.